SCOTCAT.COM  

Zawadzki et al (3)

Due to a new paper (2025) by Zawadzki et al. Hypostomus vaillanti was re-described. It was not found in the original description of the Rio Preto and the results suggest that the distribution of H. vaillanti is restricted to the Rio Parnaíba basin instead; furthermore, we provide a molecular phylogenetic analysis that highlights some relationships between H. vaillanti and closely related species (Zawadzki et al 2025). Therefore, this species is re-described, and a new diagnosis is provided based on the analysis of recently found specimens in addition to an analysis of the type material. A lectotype of the Plecostomus vaillanti is designated herein. The Hypostomus genus has 7 rays to the dorsal fin whereas the similar looking Pterygoplichthys species have 10 dorsal fin rays. Colouration: Dark vermiculated colour markings with rounded dark spots. Aquarium Care: As with most of this genus, will do well in a larger aquarium, although this is one of the smaller species in the genera, and the aquarium well filtered. Water parameters can be quite diverse for this genera. Diet: Omnivore with a liking for green, tablet and frozen foods. Etymology: The specific name vaillanti: Patronym not identified but probably in honour of French zoologist Léon Vaillant (1834–1914), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris).

None

Plecostomus vaillanti

Loricariidae

South America: Brazil, Rio Parnaíba basin. Type locality: Rio Parnaíba.

18.0cm. (7ins)

24-28°c (75-83°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Burgess, W.E., 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Fish in the News 2025.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2022. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2022 ).
Lustosa-Costa SY, Ramos TPA, Zawadzki CH, Lima SMQ. Review of the armoured catfish genus Hypostomus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Parnaíba River basin, Northeastern Brazil, with description of a new species. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2022.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
Zawadzki, C. H., Penido, I. S., Lustosa-Costa, S. Y., & Ramos, T. P. A. (2025). Re-describing and ascertaining to homeland Hypostomus vaillanti (Steindachner, 1877) (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), a golden and black pleco from Northeast Brazil. Journal of Fish Biology, 1–11.